Abroad
Taoist master, 39, found dead with 12 stab wounds in Malaysia apartment
Two of his housemates have been arrested as suspects.
January 01, 2026, 06:49 PM
A man was discovered to have been fatally stabbed 12 times in a residential apartment in the Malaysian town of Mantin on Dec. 30.
China Press identified him as a 39-year-old man who ran a Taoist temple in the town, and went by the name Master Gary on Facebook.
He had many disciples and was well-known in the area.
The incident allegedly occurred at the residence of Gary's friend, a place where he often gathered with his friends, according to China Press.
After Gary was not seen for days and became uncontactable, his friends searched for him and finally found him in the apartment.
Two housemates arrested
His death is being investigated as murder, The Star quoted the local police telling Malaysian media.
"Initial investigations at the scene found that the victim had 12 stab wounds, including to the back of the head, chest, and neck," the police said.
Following further investigations, the police arrested two men in their thirties the same day.
The suspects were the victim's housemates, and they will be remanded for seven days until Jan. 6 to assist with investigations.
The police did not rule out the involvement of other individuals.
Investigations are ongoing and will be comprehensive, including reviewing CCTV footage, witness statements, forensic analysis, and technical investigations.
Top images from Gary Tan's Facebook and China Press
